Amanatullah Khan Gets Bail in Delhi Waqf Board Case

Team Clarion

NEW DELHI — The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Okhla, New Delhi has been granted bail on Tuesday by a Delhi court in a case related to alleged irregularities at the Delhi Waqf Board during his tenure as its Chairman. He was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) after conducting raids at his premises on September 16.

According to the FIR, Amanatullah Khan, while working as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, illegally recruited 32 people by violating all norms and government guidelines. The ACB also alleged that Khan rented out several properties of the Waqf Board illegally amid allegations of corruption and favouritism. 

‘Misappropriation of funds’

The FIR further alleged that Khan misappropriated funds of the Waqf Board comprising grants-in-aid from the Delhi government, PTI reported.

The first FIR in the case was registered in January 2020 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act read with section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code. Later, Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as Section 409 of the IPC were added into the case.

Earlier this week, the court had sent Khan to 14 days of judicial custody.

Arguing in the court, senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Khan, said all ingredients for Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant or by banker, merchant or agent, etc.) of the IPC were missing and the prosecution had “cherry-picked Khan for reasons of their choice”. 

No evidence

Mehra said that there was “absolutely no misappropriation of funds”, nor was there any prima facie evidence of any money has exchanged hands.

The counsel also said that no rules were violated and the allegations were at best a procedural lapse, attracting departmental proceedings.

Raids were conducted at the residences of Amanatullah Khan and his business partner Hamid Ali Khan Masood. Two pistols and some ammunition, as well as Rs 24 lakh in cash were reportedly discovered from two of his associates during the raids, according media reports.

(With media inputs)